Adelaide United capped off a historic week in which the club reached the Asian Champions League Final by grabbing top spot in the A-League after defeating Perth Glory 2-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Adelaide United's weary squad only touched down in Adelaide on Saturday morning after their long but successful journey to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Adelaide have played 10 games in the last 45 days. Coach Aurelio Vidmar made 6 changes to the team that played midweek in Tashkent.
Adelaide kicked off the game in warm conditions on another perfect pitch at Hindmarsh Stadium. Adelaide were comfortably in control in the opening minutes.
It took only five minutes for Adelaide to test Perth goalkeeper Velaphi. Midfielder Kristian Sarkies stepped up to take a free kick, curled it over the wall only to be denied an early goal by the outstretched hand of Velaphi.
Adelaide pushed and probed the Glory defence but defenders Foxe, Topor Stanley and Downey continually repelled the Reds until the 20th minute. Once again it was Sarkies who got on the end of a deep cross to the back of the box from Alemao. But Sarkies was only able to scuff his volley harmlessly wide of the post.
Ten minutes later Alemao cut inside on the edge of the penalty area, made space for himself before unleashing a powerful drive that skimmed just wide of the post.
In the 39th minute Diego won a corner for Adelaide. Jamieson took the corner and goalkeeper Velaphi came off his line to punch the ball but missed. The ball flew through to Michael Valkanis who was stretched to meet the ball and was only able to head the ball wide of the goal post with the goals beckoning.
The referee Srebre Delovski blew for half time with the scoreline locked at 0-0 and Adelaide looking very comfortable against a lacklustre Perth.
Perth kicked off the second half and lifted the tempo in the opening minutes. Only three minutes into the half Perth went very close to opening the scoring. Glory kept possession around the Adelaide penalty area before captain Jamie Coyne unleashed a powerful drive that slammed into the goal post with Adelaide goalkeeper Birighitti well beaten.
The game started to open up with Jamieson flying down the flank before knocking a through ball to Pantelis who crossed a dangerous ball that flew through the Perth penalty area but didn't find striker Cristiano. Glory immediately countered with Rukavytsya doing a clever one-two with Jamie Coyne before clipping the ball past the inside post of Adelaide goalkeeper Birighitti. 1-0 to Perth Glory.
One goal down and Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar begain to make the changes. Travis Dodd came on for Kristian Sarkies in the 58th minute and Cassio on for Salley in the 68th minute. Adelaide pushed forward looking for an equaliser but every time Adelaide threatened the Glory defense dealt with the threat.
Cassio went very close to levelling the score. Cornthwaite crossed a ball deep to the back post and Cassio got in front of defender Downey but his header flew inches wide of the post.
Vidmar played his final card in the 78th minute bringing on Younis for Cristiano. It took less than a minute for Younis to make an impact on the game. Adelaide worked the ball down the left flank to Younis who crossed the ball with his first touch of the game and picked out the unmarked Alemao who tapped the ball home from close range. The scores were level at 1-1.
A minute later Adelaide turned the game on its head when Pantelis was brought down by Coyne and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot. Adelaide were fortunate as the foul was committed outside the penalty area. Travis Dodd stepped up and scuffed the ball home to give Adelaide the lead. 2-1 to Adelaide.
Adelaide pushed onwards and looked the more likely to score again despite their weary legs. But the score remained unchanged and Adelaide grabbed all three points to leapfrog Melbourne Victory and finish the week at the top of the A-League and only two games away from reaching the pinnacle of Asian football.
It was a fantastic win for a side that took the field with six changes. It demonstrates the squad depth at Adelaide United with the punishing schedule over the past 6 weeks having given coach Aurelio Vidmar no option but to hand game time to all of his fringe players.
Perth Glory coach David Mitchell would have been bitterly disappointed with his team's performance. Unaware bystanders could have been forgiven for thinking it was Perth Glory and not Adelaide United that was suffering from jet lag. There is undoubted talent in the Perth squad but the team is playing with very limited self belief.
Best for Adelaide was the versatile Alemao, defenders Valkanis, Ognenovski and Jamieson. Best for Perth was defender Foxe, Topor-Stanley and tireless midfielder Pellegrino and striker Rukavytsya.